Conduit for electric wires.



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No. 706,974. f Patented Aug. l2, I902.

R. W. LYLE.

CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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UNITE STATES" nrnnr OFFICE.

ROBERT XV. LYLE, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEYV JERSEY.

CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,974, dated August 12, 1902 Application filed April 10, 1902. Serial No. 102,168. (N'o model.)

To all whom) it may concern.- Be it known that I, ROBERT W. LYLE,- a citizen of the United States, residing at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conduits for their equivalents are seated, the said pins bein g adapted toenter registering or coinciding openings in the abutting ends of the said sections, being thereby intended to lock the same in alinement. A conduit thus made, how ever, possesses several serious disadvantages, chief among which is the structural weakening of its sections by the formation of such holes, seats, or recesses therein in the manner set' forth, which renders them exceedingly liable to breakage at or in adjaeence to such holes, openings, or seats, and more particularly' when they are stacked up or are being transported. It has been'the practice to form these holes or openings in the conduits while the clay composing the same is in a semiplastic condition-that is, before it is burned or fired. NVhen this latter operation is concluded, it is found that the'partitions are frequently warped and at times to such an extent that when the dowel-pins or their equivalent are introduced they cannot be brought into absolute parallelism, thereby rendering the making of a close joint between and contional elevation of a key and its seat.

tions' are very close together, about two or three inches, so that the hands of the workman cannot be very well thrust between the same. By my invention, however, these existing defects are wholly overcome, and a conduit constructed in accordance with my invention can be as cheaplymade and more easily than the kind to which I have herein before alluded, and the improved article, which in the form thereof represented in the accompanying drawings has one or more ex ternal grooves, is not appreciably weakened by the presence of such grooves. It will be obvious, therefore, that myimproved conduit involves, broadly, external locking and alining means for its respective sections which may be of any desirable character.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conduit, or rather section thereof, embracing my invention. Fig; 2 is an end view ofa slightly-modified form of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a conduit, showing the sections thereof in alinement and an envelop about one of the joints between the sections thereof. Fig. 4 is a sec- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of such key. Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding with Fig. 4 and show different forms of key and seat, and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a diiferent form of section.

Like characters refer to like parts in all the figures.

The conduit-section is denoted in a general way by 10, and it may be made of the substance usually em ployed for this purpose, and it has one or more interior passages or chambers extending the entire length of the same,

as is customary, which are adapted to receive electric wires, cables, or the like. The said conduit-section is rectangular in cross-section, or substantially so; but the invention is.

'of grooves upon the outersu'rface thereof,

and these grooves, unlike the dowel-pin holes,

do not appreciably weaken the structure and located as they are are readily accessible during the union of the sections.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the conduit-section there represented has a plurality of longitudinal grooves 11 on each of its sides at each end, while in the form shown in Fig. 2 these grooves are on only three of the sides. In fact, this is not essential, although I prefer to have the grooves on at least three of the sides. In like manner I may use only one groove at an end on each side of the conduit, as shown, for, example, in Fig. 2. It will be seen that I the respective grooves are in parallelism and on reference to Fig. 1 that they extend simply a part of the length of nector or key of corresponding cross-section is fitted therein it is firmly interlocked therewith and cannot possibly slip out sidewise.

The grooves upon the exterior of the conduit-section 10 are adapted to receive keys, as 12, (shown in-detail in Fig. 5,) and it will be seen on reference to this figure and also .to Fig. 4 that. the side walls of the key are beveled, so that they are maintained in place by a dovetail joint. These keys, it will be understood, are seated in complemental grooves or keyways registering with each other on the abutting ends of the sections 10 when the latter are assembled, the keys overlapping the joints between the sections on several sides thereof, and as the keys are locked firmly in position and as they are preferably upon three of the sides of the sections'the latter are held solidly in alined relation.

In laying the conduits the keys 12 are. first inserted in the grooves in one of the sections thereof,and thejcooperating section is brought with its end in proximitylto the first section, and the free endsof the keys are introduced into the grooves of said second section and the two parts are then moved into contact,

each key, as will be understood, being seated for about half its lengthin registering grooves in the engaging ends of the respective sections' and its ends abutting against the closed ends of such registering grooves.

I Thekeys may be made of any suitable material'and shape, one desirable form thereof having been described. In' Fig.6 the sides of the groove 11 and hence of the key 12 thereof, are of ogee form, while the groove or.

keyway 11""(shown in Fig. 7-) is rectangular in cross-section, itskey 12 being. of similar shape, and it will be seen that in each case the grooves are so formed that the undercut side walls thereof are preserved.

In some cases the grooves at the ends of the section 10 may be united'by a channel 13.

The walls of the channel are straight, and

By this construction it will be seen that the sections 10 can be first placed end to end and the keys afterward put in; but means will be necessary to hold the keys against longitudinal movement, which is not necessary with the form shown in the other views.

The conduit at the junctions of its respective sections is enveloped or wrapped byv sheets of asbestos, tarred cloth, or analogous sheet material, as 14, so as to assure close joints at these places, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3. Y

The invention of course can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim is l. A conduit-section having a relatively short external groove in its side wall at an end of the section, one end of said groove being closed and the other end opening into the end of the section, and the side walls of said groove being undercut, substantially as described.

2. A conduit-section having short external grooves at its opposite ends,'one end of each groove being closed and the other end opening into the end of the section, .the side walls of said grooves being undercut, substantially as described.

3. A conduit-section having a relatively short external groove inits side wall at an end of the section, one end of said groove being closed to form an abutment for a key, and the other end opening intothe end of the section, and the side walls of. said groove being beveled. r

4. A hollow conduit, comprising abutting tile sections, each section having relatively short external grooves at its opposite ends, one end of'each groove being closed andthe other end opening into the end of its respective section, and the side walls of the grooves being undercut, and a key having side walls shapedto correspond with the undercut side walls of the grooves, the said keys being fitted in the grooves of abutting tile sections in such manner as to bridge the joint between said sections, the closed ends of the grooves IIO voaewi g I l I sections in such manner as to bridge the joint between said sections, the closed ends of the grooves constituting stops to prevent longitudinal movement of the keys.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnosses.

ROBERT WV. LYLE.

Witnesses:

EDGAR W. WILLIAMs, ELISABETH WATTERS. 

